NORTHAMPTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEARNING CENTER
Integrating Source Material
Build a framework of your own ideas, questions, or thesis points.
Your professor is not simply interested in what other authors have to say about your topic -- s/he is interested in
what you have to say. What is your approach to the subject? What questions are you exploring? Why is the
research important? What conclusions can be drawn from the evidence presented in your paper? Use source
material to support or explain your ideas.
Integrating Source Material
Always identify sources with a citation in the format appropriate to your field: MLA, APA, or CMS.
Include a signal phrase with attribution or author tag which introduces the source, identifies its credentials,
and shapes the reader’s response through appropriate word choice. For example:
As Damian Smyth [author tag], Director of Citations Inc. [credential], insists [signal verb], “Any material from another
source must be cited!” (37) .[MLA page number citation].
Signal phrases can be a single word, phrase, or sentence.
They can appear before or after a quote, paraphrase, or summary.
They should fit the context of the source.
Example: Sam Spartan, mascot of Northampton Community College, exclaimed after his makeover that his new image gives
him power, energy, and increased respect.
See the chart below for some additional verbs that identify how the source fits into your discussion. Is the
author agreeing? Arguing? Adding information? Describing? Observing? These are alternatives to s/he says:
acknowledges
adds
admits
agrees
analyzes
argues
asserts
attempts
attributes
believes
categorizes
cites
claims
comments
compares
concludes
confirms
contends
continues
declares
defines
demonstrates
denies
describes
discusses
disputes
draws on
emphasizes
endorses
examines
exhibits
explains
feels
formulates
grants
hypothesizes
illustrates
implies
indicates
informs
insists
investigates
maintains
mentions
notes
observes
points out
proclaims
reasons
recalls
realizes
recites
refers
refutes
rejects
remarks
reports
responds
says
shows
signifies
states
stipulates
stresses
studies
suggests
supports
tells
theorizes
thinks
views
writes
Avoid:
Beginning a paragraph with a quote or paraphrase. The source material should support your topic sentence.
“Dropping” quotes into your discussion without a tag that identifies the source or ties into the topic. Example:
Although global warming continues to threaten the modern way of life, few people seem concerned. “If the ozone layer is not
protected, climate will change drastically in the decades to come.” [Says who? Why?]
Using paragraph-long quotes when only some of the material is relevant. Be selective.
When possible, incorporate shorter quotes smoothly into your own sentences: For example: Hanson’s article
reported that teenagers punctuate their sentences with “like” and “cool” (23).
Ending a paragraph or your conclusion with a quote. You, as the author of your paper, should have the last
word.
Plagiarism. All quoted and paraphrased material must be cited. If an idea comes from a source other than
yourself, give credit where credit is due.
College Center Suite 315
610-861-5517
LC August 2011